When it first imposed its blockade on the strip in 2006, Israel had specified a three-nautical-mile fishing zone for Palestinian fisherman. Gaza fishermen say the measure has adversely impacted their business, complaining that their annual hauls of fish had since fallen from pre-blockade levels of some 4,000 tons to a current 1,500 tons.

Of the Gaza Strip’s 1.8 million inhabitants, roughly 40,000 earn their living through fishing, according to the Palestinian Fishermen’s Union.

Israel to close Karam Abu Salem crossing for 5th day

For the fifth day in a row, Israel on Tuesday will maintain its closure of the Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing linking it to the southern Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official said Monday. “Israeli authorities told us they would keep the terminal closed on Tuesday in response to rockets fired at southern Israel from Gaza,” Raed Fatouh, head of a Gaza Economy Ministry committee tasked with coordinating traffic through the crossing, told Anadolu Agency.

On Monday, Israel alleged that seven rockets fired from the Gaza Strip had landed in the country’s south.

The reported rocket attacks, however, had caused no human casualties, Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner declared via Twitter. Fatouh said Israel would only permit the entry of limited amounts of diesel, gasoline and butane gas – as well as some fuel for Gaza’s sole power plant – into the strip via Karam Abu Salem.
Based on earlier official statements, Israel had been expected to open the crossing on Tuesday, following the end of Jewish Passover celebrations. Palestinian Authority border chief Nazmi Mehanna told AA last week that Israel would close the crossing from Friday to Tuesday to coincide with the Passover holidays.
Mehanna warned, however, that the closure of the Karam Abu Salem crossing in particular threatened to “paralyze commercial activity” in Gaza.